BALTIMORE — Orioles left-hander Adam Loewen has abandoned his career as a pitcher because of a stress fracture in his left elbow, the same injury that sidelined him last season and twice put him on the disabled list this year.

Loewen, 24, intends to return to the majors as an outfielder.

Had Loewen opted for a second operation on his elbow, it would have taken him at least 18 months to return. And there was no guarantee he would be pain-free or would not re-injure himself.

"I won't have to have surgery. If I did choose the other road with pitching, it would be a long road with no clear ending," Loewen said Saturday. "It's not a simple decision, but it's right there in front of me."

The fourth overall pick in the 2002 amateur draft, the 6-foot-6 Loewen made his major league debut with Baltimore in 2006. His final numbers as a pitcher: 8-8 with a 5.38 ERA in 35 games, including 28 starts.

"The good news is that we have a player that is very much a hitting prospect as well," Orioles president Andy MacPhail said. "And he has assured me he can still hit and wants to hit. So, the club is prepared to embark on that path with him. Once the season is over, we will start career No. 2 for Adam Loewen."

Loewen pitched in six games last season before being placed on the disabled list with a stress fracture. He had a 4½-inch titanium screw inserted into his elbow and declared himself completely healthy in February, but he experienced elbow soreness in late April and was placed on the disabled list.

He was activated on June 30 and pitched in three games before leaving the mound in what turned out to be his final pitching performance, on July 6 against Texas.

After visiting several doctors, Loewen realized his elbow wouldn't be able to take the stress of throwing up to 100 times in the span of three hours.

"They believe the only reason my arm feels the way it does is strictly from throwing off the mound (with) high intensity," he said. "So, if I was playing first base or outfield, or having time between throws, not throwing 90 to 93 off the mound, then my arm is going to be fine. It's not going to bother me swinging the bat.

"...It was devastating news, but I always had a backup plan so I'm sure I didn't take it as hard as anyone else would."

Before being drafted by the Orioles, Loewen pitched and played first base for Chipola Junior College in Florida, where he batted .353 with a homer and 38 RBIs in 45 games.

"We're extraordinarily fortunate we have an athlete that is capable of pursuing a career as a position player, which is not unprecedented in our game," MacPhail said.

Loewen hopes to duplicate the success enjoyed by Rick Ankiel of the St. Louis Cardinals, who has revived his career in the field after struggling with his control as a starting pitcher.

"It's been five or six years since I've hit competitively in college, where I did hit," Loewen said. "It's going to take time and it's going to be a real challenge. But Rick Ankiel did it, so I have someone before me that I can relate to."

Still, Loewen will miss being a pitcher.

"I'm always going to be a pitcher. There is no doubt about it. I love to do it," he said. "I've been doing it since I was nine years old. It's going to be tough to let it go."